Hiring Power Of Civil Board Diminished

NORTH LAUDERDALE -- Council members drastically curtailed the Civil Service Board`s hiring power and gave department heads more authority to decide who will be hired.

Under the plan, approved by the City Council on Thursday, the five-member Civil Service Board will no longer interview or test prospective job candidates, which it has done since 1974.

Instead, supervisors will interview applicants for department jobs, and the Human Resource Department will administer the test.

City Manager Eric Soroka suggested the policy changes following a 10-city survey, which revealed that no other city used its civil service board to administer tests and interview prospective employees.

He said the change will streamline hiring practices and make them more professional.

Also, the city will increase its six-month probationary period to one year. The changes also make it easier for the city to test employees for drug, psychological and medical problems when warranted.